– Nothing new. Standard representation agreement.

Cross-country manager Espen Bjervig answered NRK’s ​​question as to whether there was anything new regarding Johannes Høsflot Klæbo’s representation agreement negotiations in the last three weeks.

– Although I think it would be easier for both parties if there was a long-term agreement. But now that’s what he wants to use, Bjervig explains.

– Does that mean the agreement has been signed by you and both parties have signed it?

– Everyone not on the team signs this when they have been selected to travel, preferably two days before departure for the World Cup. This applies to everyone who is not on the national team, Bjervig said.

– Has there been any communication between you since Klæbo left for Livigno?

– Yes, we’ve talked. But as I said, Johannes wants to reach a standard agreement and the terms contained therein. We have to respect that.

When Klæbo now accepts a standard representation agreement, it means he is treated the same as all runners who have not been selected for the national team – with commercial freedom between each World Cup weekend.

Back and forth

The answer from the cross-border manager implied a new complete reversal. On Friday 13 October, the parties had apparently reached an agreement.

– Yes, the case is extraordinary. This solution has been around for a long time, Bjervig told NRK at the time.

Just before that, Klæbo had sent out a press release, in which he wrote that he wanted to say yes to the offer that Bjervig had outlined in Dagbladet earlier that week.

It was an agreement that meant that Klæbo could move in and out of standard representation agreements over the winter in relation to World Cup racing. Klæbo initially negotiated a longer-term and larger representation agreement.

Two days later, on Sunday 15 October, the response notification arrived. Bjervig wants new talks with Klæbo. Since then, there has been public silence on any talks between the parties – until Bjervig has now confirmed that there will be no further negotiations.

Will not comment

Klæbo’s communications advisor, Lasse Gimnes, told NRK that they stood by their previous statement and indicated that Klæbo had agreed to go to the World Cup with a standard agreement.

– We support the same thing as said in October. “And we consider the negotiations to be complete,” he repeated.

– Did the Ski Association try to contact you while Klæbo was in Livigno?

– We don’t want to comment on that, said Gimnes.

– This is a defeat for the Norwegian Ski Association. This is absolutely not the situation they planned for, said NRK sports commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt.

He then referenced the starting point that this has been a discussion throughout the summer and fall.

In April, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo refused to be part of the Norwegian national cross country team. According to the Ski Association’s general rules, this means last season’s World Cup winners are not allowed to compete in international competitions next winter.

The rule: “Not to be withdrawn”

It said: “A runner who declines an offer to participate on an NSF national team will not be selected by NSF to represent NSF in competition in a season in which the offer of a place on the national team is in effect, unless special circumstances exist.”

The Norwegian Ski Association’s cross-country committee had indeed proposed removing this rule, but it was rejected by the Ski Council at its April 25 meeting.

“Ski board members discussed cross-country skiing proposals. “Understanding has been shown for the desirability of cross-country skiing, but committee leadership and other ski board members believe that the current exemption provisions should be comprehensive,” he said in minutes of meetings.

– What special circumstances are this based on?

– It’s not me who decides. You should discuss this with Torbjørn Skogstad and the cross country committee, says Espen Bjervig.

– Does that mean Klæbo, who refused to make the national team, is treated the same as other people who did not make the national team for World Cup selection?

– Yes.

In the spring, an agreement was negotiated whereby Klæbo was subject to the same commercial rules as the national team runners throughout the season, with two off periods in a season.

– Seems disloyal

Jan Petter Saltvedt felt that Klæbo had been given an agreement that was contrary to the Ski Association’s own rules.

– They hardly get an idea of ​​the potential consequences of making a public commitment under the national team liability rules, says Saltvedt, who believes that Klæbo’s solution will cause a backlash among those who voted to keep the rules at the Ski Council meeting in April.

– It seems that this thinking is disloyal to the explicit decision taken by the ski board in April. This is what they say they are not interested in. The paradox emerged when the ski president himself ignored it and said that Klæbo could still take part, so they had to answer a little, said the sports commentator.

He was referring to the fact that ski president Tove Moe Dyrhaug immediately after a board meeting in April guaranteed that Klæbo would be allowed to go to the World Cup.

– Cross country management will sit down with him and figure out the needs. If he qualifies, he will head to the World Cup in winter. There is no doubt, Dyrhaug told NRK.